Can washing machine



I July 14, 1931.

Filed Feb. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

July 14, 1931. B. GRABAN 1,314,551

- -CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25. 1950 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR floZesZau; Gimbmz 09 A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES BOLESLAUS GRABAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CAN WASHING MACHINE Application filed February 25,1930. Serial No. 431,220.

interior of the cans while they are inverted bottom up.

Other objects of the invention will apear as the disclosure progresses. The drawlngs are intended merely to indicate a possible embodiment of the invention. It is obvious that the actual needs of manufacture may necessitate certain mechanical changes. It is therefore not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated but rather to define such limits in the appended claims.

For a more general understanding of the invention attention is now called to the drawings. In these drawings like reference characters denote like parts throughout the specification.

Figure 1 is a front view partly in section of the can washing machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front view partly in section of the machine.

Figure 3 is a section substantially on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top view of the adjustable ring.

Figure 5 is a top view of the perforated circular ring.

Referring now to the drawings in detail numeral 1 designates the casing of the device, 2 a chamber in which is housed the washing mechanism and 3 a cover therefor. Above the cover is a driving mechanism 4 consisting of a driving pulley 5, a pair of spur gears 6 and 7 and a set of bevel gears 8 and 9, all adapted to rotate the hollow shaft 10. Numeral 11 designates a clutch for connecting or releasing the driving mechanism from the mechanism to be driven. The bottom of the shaft 10 is cone shaped and is adapted to run in a cone shaped bearing 12. Branching out from the shaft 10 are pipes 13 to which is connected a circular pipe 14 having a set of perforations 15 at the upper face. Attached to the sides of the pipe are a pair of wall members 16 which form a channel to accommodate the cans as they are being washed.

Attached to shaft 10 above the pipes 13 are a set of radial supports 17 which support a cylindrical member 18. Surrounding this cylindrical member is a resilient curved member 19 having a set of radially disposed bolts 20 which pass through the wall of the chamber 2 and are fastened in place by collars 21. 65

Numeral 22 designates an entrance chute for the cans 23. The cans enter the chute in a horizontal position and as they slide down they take a vertical position with the bottoms up as shown in Figure 1. When they successively reach the end of the chute they drop through the hole 24 onto the rotatihg pipe 14.

Numeral 25 designates a chute on which the washed cans are scooped up leading to an endless belt 26. The forward end 27 of the chute 25 slopes downwardly so the cans can very easily slide up on the chute.

Numeral 28 designates a water inlet pipe and 29 a steam inlet pipe. Steam and water enter the pipe 30 and pass into the chamber 31 where they are mixed and thence pass out through the perforations 15 into the interior of the cans 23. The perforated pipe 14 on which the cans rest and the circular member 18 constantly rotate in unison. As the cans drop on the pipe 14 the cans move therewith until they reach the scoop 27 where they slide on the chute 25 and pass onto the moving belt 26. The curved member 19 is non-rotatable. The function of the members 18 and 19 is to prevent the cans, if they happen to accidently topple off the pipe 14, from falling into the chamber 2 and thence into the pedestal 31 of the ma-' chine. The ring member 19 is open at one end as noted in Figures 3 and 4 so as not to interfere with the chutes 22 and 25. The diameter of the ring can be made smaller or larger to suit the size of the cans by drawing up or loosening the collars 21. At the bottom of the pedestal 31 is a drain 32 for draining off the water which may collect therein.

In Figures 1 and 3 the cans 23 are shown riding between the wall members 16. However, to accommodate larger cans than the width of the channel they can be made to rest on the top edge of said wall members instead.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple, eflicient and ractical machine for the purpose specifie The machine is adapted to operate continuously, automatically and without any interruption. The cans enter one part of the machine and after being cleaned and sterilized they leave the machine and pass onto an endless belt.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a can washing machine of the class described, the combination of inlet and outlet chutes, of a substantially horizontal circular revolving perforated pipe for directly supporting the cans to be washed, a water and steam inlet pipe leading to said perforated pipe, a resilient ring member having an open portion and supported above said perforated pipe, and means to reduce or enlarge the diameter of said resilient ring member.

2. In a can washing machine of the class described, the combination of inlet and outlet chutes, of a substantially horizontal circular revolving perforated pipe for supporting the cans to be washed, an inlet pipe leading to said perforated pipe for supplying steam and water thereto, said inlet chute being adapted to receive the cans in a horizontal position and having means for depositing said cans on said perforated pipe in a vertical position with the bottoms up.

3. In a can washing machine of the class described, the combination of a casing, a circular rotatable perforated hollow ring for supporting the cans to be washed, means to direct a spray of hot water and steam into the interior of said cans through said ring and its perforations including a rotatable centrally positioned vertical inlet pipe connected with said ring, a air of wall members attached to said per orated ring forming a channel for said cans, a circular wall member supported from said vertical pipe and rotating therewith, said last-named member extending around the inner side of said perforated ring, an outer resilient circular member havin an open portion, adjustable means for astening said resilient member to said casing whereby the diameter of said resilient member may be increased or decreased, and means to rotate said vertical inlet pipe and said erforated pipe.

In testimony whereof aflix my signature.

BOLESLAUS GRABAN. 

